Recording Features
Play And Print Functions
Battery Information
Supplied Software
Recording Features
Package Contents: The Sony NEX-5N contains
the α (alpha series) NEX-5N camera body only. No lenses are included.
Lens Compatibility: The NEX-5N is compatible with Sony's E-mount series of smaller,
lighter lenses, such as the 16mm F2.8 pancake lens (SEL16F28), 18-55mm
F3.5-5.6 lens (SEL1855) and 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 (SEL18200) zoom lens. With the optional LA-EA1 lens
adapter, the Sony α (alpha) lenses can be used.
3" Tiltable LCD Touch Screen: The NEX-5N uses a 3" Xtra Fine LCD screen
with 921,600 dots. The TruBlack screen has a special resin layer to suppress
internal reflections and increase contrast compared to conventional LCDs. The
screen tilts down 45° and up 80° to frame high- and
low-angle shots. The camera does not have a separate viewfinder.
Versatile Recording Formats: Images can be captured in the
following modes:
- JPEG (Fine and Standard)
- RAW
- RAW+JPEG (Fine)
Image Sensor: The NEX-5N features
an APS-C sized Exmor CMOS HD image sensor (23.5 x 15.6mm). It has approximately
16.7-million total pixels and 16.1-million effective pixels.
Image Sizes: You can record
still images in a 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratio. The image sizes include:
| Aspect Ratio |
Image Size |
Resolution |
| 3:2 |
L: 16M |
4912 x 3264 |
| M: 8.4M |
3568 x 2368 |
| S: 4M |
2448 x 1624 |
| 16:9 |
L: 14M |
4912 x 2760 |
| M: 7.1M |
3568 x 2000 |
| S: 3.4M |
2448 x 1376 |
Movie Recording: The NEX-5N can record High Definition in
Full HD 1080 (1920 x 1080) in MPEG-4 AVCHD (H.264). High Definition (1440 x
1080) and Standard Definition (640 x 480) movies in MPEG-4 format with AAC-LC 2-channel
audio. Continuous recording is possible for approximately 29 minutes. The
following options are available:
| AVCHD 60i/60p |
Average Bit Rate |
Recording |
| 60i 24M (FX) |
24 Mbps |
1920 x 1080 (60i) |
| 60i 17M (FH) |
17 Mbps |
1920 x 1080 (60i) |
| 60P 28M (PS) |
28 Mbps |
1920 x 1080 (60p) |
| 24P 24M (FX) |
24 Mbps |
1920 x 1080 (24p) |
| 24P 17M (FH) |
17 Mbps |
1920 x 1080 (24p) |
| MP4 |
Average Bit Rate |
Recording |
| 1440 x 1080 12M |
12 Mbps |
1440 x 1080 |
| VGA 3M |
3 Mbps |
VGA size |
Dual Media Options: The NEX-5N accepts two types
of media for capturing still images: Memory Stick PRO Duo (including Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo) and SD,
SDHC, and SDXC Memory Cards. The camera is also compatible with Eye-Fi cards,
which can upload images from the memory card wirelessly to your computer via
Wi-Fi. Images recorded on SDXC cards cannot be imported to
or played on computers or AV devices that are not compatible with exFAT. The maximum number of images that can be recorded on a memory card
is as follows:
Still Image Capacity based on images taken at L 16M/Aspect Ratio:
3:2:
| Size \ Capacity |
2 GB |
4 GB |
8 GB |
16 GB |
32 GB |
| Standard |
410 |
820 |
1650 |
3300 |
6700 |
| Fine |
290 |
590 |
1150 |
2400 |
4800 |
| RAW & JPEG |
80 |
155 |
320 |
640 |
1250 |
| RAW |
105 |
215 |
440 |
880 |
1750 |
Movie Recording Capacity:
| Size \ Capacity |
2 GB |
4 GB |
8 GB |
16 GB |
32 GB |
| 60i 24M (FX) |
10 min |
20 min |
40 min |
1 hr 30 min |
3 hrs |
| 60i 17M (FH) |
10 min |
30 min |
1 hr |
2 hrs |
4 hrs 5 min |
| 60P 28M (PS) |
9 min |
15 min |
35 min |
1 hr 15 min |
2 hrs 30 min |
| 24P 24M (FX) |
10 min |
20 min |
40 min |
1 hr 30 min |
3 hrs |
| 24P 17M (FH) |
10 min |
30 min |
1 hr |
2 hrs |
4 hrs 5 min |
| 1440 x 1080 12M |
20 min |
40 min |
1 hr 20 min |
2 hrs 45 min |
5 hrs 30 min |
| VGA 3M |
1 hr 10 min |
2 hrs 25 min |
4 hrs 55 min |
10 hrs |
20 hrs |
SteadyShot: When the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens or the 18-200
F3.5-5.6 lens
is attached to the NEX-5N, you can turn on the Steady Shot function to reduce the
effect of camera shake. You cannot set Steady Shot when the optional 16mm F2.8
E-mount lens or an A-mount lens is attached.
25-Point AF System: The NEX-5N's high-performance auto focus
system uses 25 focus points to deliver fast and precise focusing. You can choose from the following
Auto/Manual Focus Modes:
- AF/MF Select: You can choose from these three focusing
methods:
- Auto Focus: The camera focuses automatically.
- Direct Manual Focus: After focusing automatically, you can
make fine adjustments to the focus by turning the focusing ring.
- Manual Focus: You can adjust the focus manually by turning
the focusing ring.
- AF (Auto focus) Mode: You can select between 2 modes:
- Single-Shot AF:
The camera focuses and the focus is locked when you press the
shutter button halfway down.
- Continuous AF:
The camera continues to focus while the shutter button is pressed
and held halfway down.
- AF (Auto focus) Area: You can select between 3 settings:
- Multi:
The camera determines which of the 25 AF areas is used
in focusing. When Face Detection is active, AF operates with priority on
faces.
- Center: The camera uses the AF area located in the
center area exclusively.
- Flexible Spot: You can choose a focus
area from the 25 areas using the controller.
Focus Lock: If a subject is
off-center and outside of the AF area, you can lock the focus of the camera.
AF Illuminator: When you press the shutter button halfway
down a red illuminator is emitted until the focus is locked. Under dark lighting
conditions or when you shoot a low contrast subject, the AF illuminator allows
the camera to focus more easily on the subject.
Drive Modes:
The camera offers the
following shooting modes:
- Single Shot Advance: Default setting for standard
picture taking--shoots one still image.
- Shooting Continuously: When you press and hold the
shutter button, the camera records the images continuously at a maximum 3
images per second.
- Speed Priority Continuous:
When you press and hold the shutter button, the camera records the
images continuously at a maximum 10
images per second.
- Self-Timer:
You can set the camera to two different self-timers:
- 10 Second: After you press the shutter button, the shutter will be
released about 10 seconds later. This is convenient when the
photographer wants to appear in a photo.
- 2 Second:
After you press the shutter button, the shutter will be released about 2
seconds later. This is convenient to reduce camera-shake.
- Self-timer Continuous: After you press the shutter button,
the camera will continuously take 3 or 5 images after a 10-second pause.
- Exposure Bracket:
The camera can shoot three continuous images with the exposures shifted
automatically. This setting shoots images continuously with exposure value
shifted by plus or minus 0.3 EV or 0.7 EV.
- Remote Commander:
The NEX-5N is compatible with the RMT-DSLR1 Wireless Remote Commander. You
can shoot using the SHUTTER and 2SEC buttons on the remote control.
Exposure Modes: The camera offers the following exposure
modes:
- Intelligent Auto: The camera analyses the subject, and
allows you to shoot with appropriate settings. It recognizes and
automatically switches to Night Scene, Tripod Night Scene, Night Portrait,
Backlight, Backlight Portrait, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Spotlight, Low
Brightness, or Baby.
- Scene Selection: You can select an appropriate mode for the
subject or the shooting conditions to allow you to shoot the image with a
suitable setting for the subject:
- Portrait: blurs away backgrounds and sharpens the subject;
expresses skin tones softly
- Landscape: shoots the entire range of scenery in sharp focus with
vivid colors.
- Macro: for shooting close subjects such as flowers, insects,
dishes, or small goods.
- Sports Action: for shooting moving subjects outdoors or in bright
places.
- Sunset: for shooting the red of the sunset beautifully
- Night Portrait: for shooting portraits in night scenes.
You should attach and use the supplied flash.
- Night Scene: for shooting night scenes without losing the dark atmosphere.
- Hand-held Twilight: for shooting night scenes with less
noise and blur without using a tripod. A burst of shots are taken, and image
processing is applied to reduce subject blur, camera shake, and noise.
- Anti Motion Blur: This mode is suitable for indoor
shots without using the flash, to reduce subject blur.
- Sweep Panorama/3D Sweep Panorama: You can create a panoramic image from
composed images. To shoot, pan the camera horizontally or vertically while
holding down the shutter button. You can select from the following modes of panorama
shooting:
- Panorama:
- Standard: Vertical--3872 x 2160; Horizontal--8192 x 1856
- Wide: Vertical--5536 x 2160; Horizontal 12416 x 1856
- 3D Panorama:
- 16:9: Horizontal--1920 x 1080
- Standard: Horizontal--4912 x 1080
- Wide: Horizontal--7152 x 1080
- Program Auto: This mode allows you to shoot with the
exposure adjusted automatically (both the shutter speed and the aperture
value), while keeping the custom settings for ISO sensitivity, Creative
Style, D-Range optimizer, etc.
- Aperture Priority: This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the aperture
value manually, letting the camera set the appropriate shutter speed. This
mode gives you greater control over the depth of field.
- Shutter Priority: This mode allows you to shoot
after adjusting the shutter speed manually, letting the camera set the
appropriate aperture. With a high shutter speed, the moving subject appears as if
it is frozen on the image. With a slow shutter speed, the moving subject appears as if it were flowing.
- Manual Exposure:
This mode allows you to shoot after adjusting the exposure (shutter speed
and aperture) manually.
- Bulb (Long Exposure) Shooting:
In this setting as long as the shutter button is pressed, the shutter
remains open. You can shoot trails of light, such as fireworks.
Exposure Compensation: Exposure compensation is used to
alter the camera's standard exposure setting. You can make the image look
lighter (increased exposure) or darker (decreased exposure). The exposure
compensation amount can be set up to +/-3 EV in 1/3-step increments.
AE Lock: You
can fix the exposure before deciding on the composition when taking a picture.
This is effective when the metering object and focusing object are different or
when you want to shoot continuously while keep the same exposure value.
Face Detection: When activated, the camera detects the faces
of your subjects and adjusts the focus, flash exposure, and white balance
settings automatically. You can also select the priority face to be focused on,
or register the faces on which to automatically focus upon.
Metering Mode:
An advanced 1200-zone evaluative sensing system provides multi-pattern measuring for
superior exposure control accuracy in a wide range of lighting conditions. You
can select the method for measuring the brightness of a subject from the
following three methods:
- Multi Pattern:
This method uses the whole screen divided into multiple areas to
determine the proper exposure of the entire screen.
- Center Weighted:
While emphasizing the central area of the screen, this method measures
the average brightness of the entire screen.
- Spot: This method measures light only in the spot metering
circle in the center of the frame.
White Balance: You can adjust the color tones according to the
lighting conditions. You can choose from the following WB options:
- Auto WB: This mode adjusts the white balance automatically.
- Daylight: This mode adjusts for outdoors and sunlit subjects.
- Shade: This mode adjust for shady conditions on a clear day.
- Cloudy: This mode adjust for a cloudy sky.
- Incandescent: This mode adjusts for incandescent
lighting.
- Fluorescent: This mode adjusts for the following types
of fluorescent lighting: Warm White, Cool White, Day White, Daylight
- Flash: This mode adjusts for flash conditions.
- Color Temperature: This mode adjusts the white balance
depending upon the light source (color temperature). It achieves the effect
of color compensation (CC) filters for photography.
- Custom: In a scene where the ambient light consists of
multiple types of light sources, use of the custom white balance is
recommended in order to accurately reproduce the whiteness.
Creative Style: This camera is pre-programmed with image styles
optimal for various scenes and purposes. For each setting, you can adjust the
contrast, saturation, and sharpness. You can choose from the following settings:
- Standard: This setting reproduces various scenes with rich
gradation and beautiful color.
- Vivid: This setting reproduces memorable scenery such as blue
sky, sunsets, spring greenery, and autumn leaves with deep and vivid
colors.
- Portrait: This setting accentuates the subject and softly reproduces skin tones.
- Landscape:
This setting reproduces the scenery with vivid and sharp colors.
- Sunset:
This setting beautifully reproduces the red of the sunset.
- B & W: This setting is for monochrome images.
ISO Settings: ISO is a unit of measurement of sensitivity to
light. The larger the number, the higher the sensitivity. The camera's ISO can
be set manually or automatically at ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400,
12800, or 25600.
Flash: In a dark location, using the supplied HVL-F7S flash
allows you to shoot the subject brightly, and it also helps prevent blurred
photos due to camera shake. The NEX-5N features a special multi-pin jack
for attaching the flash. When attached, you can turn the flash on or off by
raising or lowering the flash head. When the flash is attached, it adds
approximately 1/2" to the overall height of the camera, and adds 1-1/4" when
raised. The NEX-5N offers the following flash modes:
- Autoflash: In auto mode the flash
automatically fires if it is dark or against light.
- Fill-Flash: In this mode the flash fires
every time the shutter is released.
- Slow Sync: Slow sync shooting allows you to shoot a clear image
of both the subject and the background by slowing the shutter speed.
- Rear Sync: In rear sync mode, the objects illuminated by
other light sources are captured first, then the flash is fired right before
the exposure is completed.
- Flash Off: The flash does not fire, even if the flash is raised.
Noise Reduction: The camera offers Long Exposure and High ISO Noise
Reduction (NR) to automatically reduce the grainy noise found in photos during
long exposures or high ISO settings.
Play And Print Functions
Playback Options: You can view images on
the LCD monitor with 3 options: with recording data
displayed, without recording data, or histogram display. A histogram is the luminance distribution that shows how many pixels of a
particular brightness exists in a picture. The histogram display of this camera
shows the brightness on the horizontal axis (left side is black, right side is
white) and the number of pixels on the vertical axis.
Auto Review: After an image is recorded, you can
have the camera automatically display it on the LCD monitor
for two, five or 10 seconds. You can also turn off auto
review.
Image Rotation: Vertical shots can be
rotated automatically so that they are displayed upright
during playback. This can be done manually or automatically.
Playback Screen: You can view your photos back as
a single image on the LCD monitor, as an Index or as a Slide
Show . During Index View mode, you can view 6 or 12 images at
once. You can adjust the Slide Show mode interval from 1, 3,
5, 10, or 30 seconds.
Image Enlargement: During single image
playback you can enlarge an entire image or a select area of
an image, depending upon the image size. Small images
can be enlarged up to 6.7x, Medium images to 10x, and
Large images up to 13x. Once you have enlarged the image,
you can pan around the image to view the desired portion.
Rotating Images: Images can be rotated
counter-clockwise 360-degrees on the camera's LCD monitor
during single image playback.
Protect Images: You can protect all images on your
memory card or select only certain images to be protected
from accidental erasure.
HDMI Output: The NEX-5N provides
direct mini-HDMI output to your HDTV screen, so you can view
and share photos in clarity and detail. You can choose
between standard 3:2 or widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. When
connected to a Sony BRAVIA TV, you can control the image
playback using the TV remote. A mini-HDMI-to-HDMI cable is
not supplied.
Printing Options: The camera offers the following
printing options.
- DPOF Compatible: Using the camera, you can
specify the images and the number of images to print
before you print images at a photo-shop or with your
printer.
- Memory Card: You can print images with a
Memory Stick or SD card compliant printer.
- Computer: You can copy images to a computer
using the supplied "Picture Motion Browser" software and
print the images.
Battery Information
InfoLithium Battery:
The NEX-5N is powered by the NP-FW50 InfoLithium battery
(supplied). The battery communicates data to the camera, so
that the percentage of battery power remaining can be
displayed. Stamina Battery power allows you to take up to
430 shots on a fully charged battery.
Charging: The supplied InfoLithium battery requires
approximately 250 minutes for a full charge, using the supplied BC-VW1 charger.
The battery must be fully charged before initial use.
Power Save: You can set different time intervals for the
camera to switch to Power Save mode. You
can set the interval to 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 30 minutes. Once the
camera goes into Power Save mode, you can return to the shooting mode by
pressing the shutter button halfway.
Supplied Software
Application Software CD-ROM: The following software is
included with the NEX-5N:
Picture Motion Browser Ver.5.5: Windows Only
-
Import images shot with the
camera and display them on the computer.
-
Organize images on the computer
on a calendar by shooting date to view them.
-
Retouch, print, and send images
as e-mail attachments and change the shooting date.
-
Print or save still images with the date.
-
You can create a data disc using a CD burner driver or DVD burner drive.
-
You can create Blu-ray discs, AVCHD format discs, or DVD discs from AVCHD
format movies imported to a computer.
Image Data Lightbox SR Ver.2.2: Windows and Macintosh
- Display and compare RAW/JPEG images recorded with this camera
- Rate the images on a scale of five
- Set the color labels
- Display an image in "Image Data Converter SR" and make adjustments to it
Image Data Converter SR Ver.3.2: Windows and Macintosh
-
You can edit images recorded in
RAW mode with various corrections, such as tone curve, and sharpness.
-
Adjust images with white balance, exposure, creative style, etc.
-
Save the images displayed and edited on a computer. You can save the image
as RAW format, or save it in the general file format.
Windows Requirements:
- Sony Image Data Suite (Image Data Converter):
- OS Pre-Installed:
- Microsoft Windows XP SP3 (64-bit editions and Starter editions
are not supported)
- Windows Vista SP2 (Starter edition is not supported)
- Windows 7 (SP1)
- CPU/Memory: Pentium 4 or faster is recommended, RAM 1 GB or
more is recommended
- Display: 1024 x 768 dots
or more
- Sony Picture Utility (Picture Motion Browser):
- OS Pre-Installed:
- Microsoft Windows XP SP3 (64-bit editions and Starter editions
are not supported)
- Windows Vista SP2 (Starter edition is not supported)
- Windows 7
- CPU:
- Minimum: Pentium III 800 MHz or faster
- Recommended: For playing/editing the HD movies: Intel
Core Duo 1.66 GHz or faster, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.66 GHz or faster, Intel
Core 2 Duo 2.26 GHz or faster (HD FX/HD FH), Intel Core 2 Duo 2.40 GHz
or faster (HD PS)
- Memory: 512 MB or more (for playing/editing HD
movies: 1 GB or more)
- Hard Disk Space: 500 MB or more (for installation)
- Display: 1024 x 768 dots
or more
Macintosh Requirements:
- USB Connection: OS: Mac OS X (v10.3 to v10.6)
- Sony Image Data Converter only:
- OS Pre-Installed: Mac OS X v10.5, v10.6 (Snow
Leopard)
- CPU: Intel Processors, such as Intel Core Solo/Core
Duo/Core 2 Duo
- Memory: 1 GB or more is recommended
- Display: 1024 x768 dots or more
